Abstract |
In the present study, the authors analyzed the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in peripheral blood (PB) of neuroblastoma (NB) patients and investigated the clinical implications. From April 2005 to October 2008, a total of 683 PB specimens (64 at diagnosis, 244 during chemotherapy, 355 during off- therapy follow-up, and 20 at relapse) acquired from 141 patients were investigated. TH expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). TH-positive rate at diagnosis (21.4%) was higher than those during chemotherapy (0.8%) or off- therapy follow-up (1.7%). TH expression at diagnosis was associated with high-risk features (ie, advanced stage, older age, unfavorable pathology, and amplified N-myc) and the probability of 3-year relapse-free survival in the TH-positive patients was lower than in the TH-negative patients (45.8% ± 27.8% versus 95.8% ± 5.7%, P < .001). TH expression was positive in only 6 specimens during off- therapy follow-up. However, tumor relapse occurred in only 2 out of 6 TH-positive patients. In addition, TH expression was negative during previous off- therapy follow-up, prior to relapse, in 8 out of 10 relapsed patients. Whereas TH expression in PB at diagnosis was associated with high-risk features and a poorer outcome, TH expression during off- therapy follow-up had very limited value for the prediction of a subsequent relapse.
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Authors | Seung-Tae Lee, Chang-Seok Ki, Ki Woong Sung, Hee-Jin Kim, Jong-Won Kim, Sun-Hee Kim, Soo Hyun Lee, Keon Hee Yoo, Hong Hoe Koo, Ju Youn Kim, Eun Joo Cho |
Journal | Pediatric hematology and oncology
(Pediatr Hematol Oncol)
Vol. 28
Issue 1
Pg. 16-23
(Feb 2011)
ISSN: 1521-0669 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21083359
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Male
- Neuroblastoma
(blood, diagnosis, enzymology)
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Recurrence
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
(blood, genetics, metabolism)
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